Improvement in machines for cutting tobacco



'RITTERHOFF & COLQUITT;

Tobacco Cutting Machine.

No. 41,721. Patented Feb. 23,1864.

N. PETERS. Phuw-Lflhogrlphar. Withingfiun. D. C-

F. w. RITTERHOFF AND 0. A. oonouirr, on New YORK, N. Y, c

PATENT tries.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING TOBACCO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 L72 l dated February 23, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, F. W. RITTERHOFF and O. A. OoL UIrT, both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Cutting Tobacco, &c.; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional side eleva-- tion of our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to produce a simple, compact, and cheap machine for cutting tobacco or other material or materials of any desired fineness, so that every small manufacturer is enabled to cut up his own tobacco to suit himself and his customers.

The invention consists in the application of one or more oscillating adjustable levers acted upon by eccentrics or cams,and acting on rising-and-falling tappets, in combination with the cutter-wheel, and with a lever springcatch, which acts on the teeth of a ratchetwheel secured to the end of a screw-spindle, which imparts motion to the follower moving in a box, and through it to the tobacco or other material to be cut, in such a manner that by the combined action of the adjustable levers, tappet, ratchet-wheel, screw-spindle, and fol lower an intermittent feed-motion is imparted to the tobacco or other material in the box, and said material is cutup to such a fineness as may be determined by the position of the oscillating levers.

The invention consists, also, in the employ ment or use of a laterally-sliding nut, in combination with the screw-spindle, follower, and

, box in such a manner that, by imparting to said nut a lateral motion, the end of the box is thrown open for the purpose of removing the follower and introducing a fresh charge of tobacco or other material.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use ourinvention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents aframe made of wood or other suitable material, and supported by legs B. This frame forms the bearings for the drivingshaft 0, to which a rotary motion is imparted by hand or any other competent power. This shaft carries the cutter-wheel D'and a flywheel, E, which is intended to equalize the motion. The cutters a are secured to the cireumference of the wheel D in the usual manner, and they sweep down close to the front end of the box F, through which the tobacco or other material to be cut is fed to said cutters. The number of cutters may be varied according to the size of the cutter-wheel. In the drawings we have shown two cutters, but instead of two only one or three or more might be used. The feed-motion is effected by the action of two (more or less) eccentrics or cams, G, which are secured to the driving-shaft O. The number and position of these cams correspond to the number and position of the cutters on the wheel D, so that whenever one of the cutters has done its work one of the cams is brought in action, and the tobacco or other material to be cut is fed the desired distance before the next succeeding cutter takes effect. The cams G act upon levers H, which are pivoted to the side of the frame A by means of a pin, 1), which is adjustable in a bracket, I, with a large number of holes, each of the levers being provided with a similar number, so that their fulcrum can be changed, and the motion produced by the cams G can be varied at pleasure. The motion of the levers H is transmitted to rising-and-falling tappets J, which are guided in a slotted standard, K, at or near the rear end of the frame A, and these tappets impart motion to a lever, I,

which is hinged to the end of the screw-spindle M, and which carries a spring-pawl, c, that engages with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, N, secured to the end of said screw-spindle. By the alternate action of the rising-and-falling tappets J on the lever I an intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the screw-spindle, and through it to the follower O, which fits into the box F, and serves to feed the tobacco or other material toward the cutterwheel. The screwspindle M screws into a nut, P, which is adjustable in a slotted bedplate, Q, so-that a lateral motion'can be given to it whenever it may be desired to remove the follower, or to have free access to the end of the box F. During the operation of the machine the nut P is secured in its place by a pin, 1. It must be remarked, however, ever, that our machine may be used for cutthat instead of making the nut stationary, ting other materials besides tobacco.- said nut might be secured to the follower, or What we claim as new, and desire to secure made a part of the same, and in this case the by Letters Patent, isscrew-spindle would have to be so arranged 1. The application of one or more oscillatthat it would rotate freely without being a1- ing adjustable levers, Hfin combination with lowed to move in a longitudinal direction. the cams G, tappets J, lever spring-catch L, The amount of the feed motion, and conseratchet-wheel N, screwspindle M, follower O, quently the fineness of the cut material, deboX F, and cutter-wheel D, all constructed and pends upon the position of the fulcrum-pin 1) operating in the manner and for the purpose of the levers H, and by changing this pin the substantially as herein shown and described. fineness of the cut material can be varied at 2. The laterally sliding nut I, in combinapleasure. The changes to be effected in the tion with the screw-spindleM and box F, confeed motion may, however, be still further structed and operating in the manner and for increased byfattaching a serigs of gear-wheels the purpose substantially as set forth. to the end o the serewspin 1e similar to the baek gear of a turning-lathe,

This mach'ne ssimple in its construction, and it will enable every small manufacturer Witnesses: of cigars or dealer in tobacco to cut up his own J. WHITELAW,

tobacco to suit himself. It is obvious, how- GEO. W. REED. 

